Nineteen animated movies have thrown their hats in the ring
for the 2014 Oscar for best animated film, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences announced this afternoon (Nov. 5). Not all have completed their
qualifying run in Los Angeles as required by Academy rules but are expected to
do so by the end of the year.

Among the entries are those from the animation big boys that
boast annual entries in the category, such as Disney's "Planes" as well as the studio's
forthcoming "Frozen," Pixar's "Monsters
University" and DreamWorks Animations' "The Croods." The
category's front-runner, however -- or at least the popular favorite, if
box-office receipts are any indication -- is Universal Pictures' "Despicable Me
2," which stands as the second-highest grossing film of the year so far.

Also in the mix: 20th Century Fox Animation's "Epic," based on the work
of Shreveport author and animator William Joyce.

Her are the 19 submitted
features, listed in alphabetical order:

"Cloudy with a Chance of
Meatballs 2"

"The Croods"

"Despicable Me 2"

"Epic"

"Ernest and Celestine"

"The Fake"

"Free Birds"

"Frozen"

"Khumba"

"The Legend of Sarila"

"A Letter to Momo"

"Monsters University"

"O Apóstolo"

"Planes"

"Puella Magi Madoka Magica
the Movie - Rebellion"

"Rio: 2096 A Story of Love
and Fury"

"The Smurfs 2"

"Turbo"

"The Wind Rises"

That list will be pared down
to three to five final nominees, which will be announced with the rest of the
Oscar nominations on Jan. 16, 2014. The 86th annual Academy Awards will be
handed out in a live ceremony on March 2, originating live from Hollywood and
airing on ABC television.